Okay, so I thought I'd learn me a few things to keep grab the set's attention.. and they work. Everbody loves a good magic trick - just don't do it twice for the same people and don't show them how it's done. It kills the awe that you build up.
Two tricks that are very easy:
1) "Torn paper"
2) "Disappearing coin"
For each trick, I'll give the video I used and then give you a suggestion to "kick it up a notch"
1) Torn Paper (Thanks to freemagicschool.com)
This is where you tear a piece of paper up, scrunch it in your hand, and then unfold the paper to reveal it whole again. The video I started with:
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I found I was getting lots of hostility performing this though.. people would be like "you didn't REALLY do that!" (no shit) and then try and snatch the paper from me to see the trick, so I found a way to make it better using a psychological trick that I think I saw someone post here earlier.
Before you start this trick, write "CARROT" on the second piece of paper (the one that is whole) and scrunch it up. While performing the trick, ask somebody in the set to name a vegetable. 95% of native-english-speaking people will say Carrot (I learnt last night: apparently Polish people almost always say Tomato)
As you unfold the paper, they're going to be momentarily amazed that you've done it. Now NORMALLY at this stage their brain gear shifts from amazement into suspicion. They want to see how the trick is done (and this is where the hostility comes if you don't show them) - they know you've done sleight of hand and they don't want to appear stupid. To bypass the hostility, you now reveal that "CARROT" is written on the piece of paper. This is another mental gear shift back into amazement. The thought process is like this... "Well, I know he must have been hiding the second piece of paper in his hand somewhere.. but how the HELL did he get carrot written on there?"
And if they don't say CARROT, just don't mention it again. If you ask the question casually enough, as if you're just running a survey, they won't even remember it after you bring the paper back (and in a dark bar/club they don't have to see the writing)
2) Disappearing coin
Watch the video first... I found this on digg (
http://digg.com/design/Top_10_Magic_Tri ... f_All_Time):
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A damned good trick. Most people will figure out exactly what you did, but they will still be amazed that you managed to do it without them noticing. Those who don't figure it out will be utterly awed and amazed. Best performed when you are sitting down at a table. If you're standing at the bar or a table, you want to be across from whoever you're doing it for , as they will see the "drop" as you do it if you are beside them.
Okay, now to "kick it up a notch".. you've already done the trick and you're left holding a glass, a coin and a decent-sized piece of paper. Take the piece of paper, and make an origami crane/swan out of it while carrying the conversation with the set (you may need to fold & tear the paper to make it square). If you've done it a few times it shouldn't take you very long, but even if it does, by this time you've already done a magic trick for them and they will be intrigued to know what it is that you are doing next. Most people won't figure out it's a crane until you're folding up the tail (one of the last two steps)
The crane also works good because you can use it to neg a HB. If there is more than one girl in the set, all the girls are going to want the crane. Unfortunately, you only have one to give away. Choose wisely.
Anyway, that's all I've got so far. If anyone's got any other good ones that are a) easy to do and b) involve everyday objects (but not cards), please pm them to me or even post them here.
- Dex
PS: Aware it's against the magician's code to give away secrets. Well, the videos were already out there, I'm just showing + elaborating.
PPS: Another good trick is
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/360289/da ... _revealed/ (the self tying shoe lace). I unfortunately am in a remote location (Europe) at the moment and have no idea where to get the two props you require for it (extra shoelace and a pully)
CHAT
